AOA helps in Brazilian optometry victory

The AOA and members of the World Council of Optometry (WCO) joined together to defeat legislation that would have restricted the ability of optometrists in Brazil to independently treat patients. Brazilian president Dilma Vana Rousseff vetoed a clause affecting optometry in the recently approved Medical Bill No 268/2002.

"Optometrists around the world stood together to show that more access to optometry, not less, is better for the citizens of Brazil."

The legislation would have allowed optometrists to only practice under the supervision of a medical doctor. This provoked an immediate response from Brazilian optometrists who were concerned about the impact that this could have on their scope of practice.

The Brazilian optometrists reached out to the WCO, who in turn encouraged all optometry groups to write letters in opposition to the proposed language. The AOA and other national associations provided letters supporting the Brazilian optometrists' efforts.

"The AOA is proud to join with other optometry associations around the world to oppose legislation that would hurt patient access to high quality eye care," according to AOA President Mitchell T. Munson, OD. "Optometrists around the world stood together to show that more access to optometry, not less, is better for the citizens of Brazil."